Steel derrick



J. E. SMITH STEEL DERRICK June 2, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet I Filed Feb. 23. 1928 mrwm QTTORNEY J. E. SMITH STEEL DERRICK Juhe 2, 1931.

Filed Feb. 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES E. SMITH, LOS ANGELES, oAnr oENIA. ASSIGNOR o wEsTEnN PIPE & STEEL COMPANY 0E CALIFORNIA, A ooaronarron 0E CALIFORN1A.

STEEL DERRICK My invention relates to steel derricks for use in the drilling and subsequent operations of oil wells and the like, being more particularly a steel derrick of the multiple type, that is, a main derrick structure and a removable reinforcing structure.

It has been common practice in the drilling of wells to use a single heavy derrick structure, usually made of timbers, which structure is left standing during not only the drilling operation, but also during allsubsequent operations, such as pumping, etc., and in some cases such structures are left permanently standing. In other cases the derricks are moved to new locations, but due to the heavy construction used, this operation is not only cumbersome but expensive.

The principal object of my invention is to produce a derrick of simple form and construction, consisting, in fact, of a main tower and an auxiliary tower, the main tower consisting of two sections, a top section composed of light structure and a lower or base section, consisting of a permanent heavy structure extending upwardly to a position above the draw works. Seated upon and supported by the base section just referred to is an auxiliary tower structure attachable to and removable from the upper section of the main tower.

It is another object of my invention to produce a simple and economical form'of clamping means for securing the auxiliary tower to the main tower.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter from the following description and drawings. 4

Referringto the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. l is a side elevation of'a derrick em- "bodying a form of my invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional plan View on line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional plan View on line 77 of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional plan view on line 8-8 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view, partly in Tection, of the upper end of one of the derrick egs.

Describing more particularly the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 11 designates suitable foundations upon which is mounted the derrick structure which is substantially rectangular in cross sectional plan, and consists primarily of four legs connected together by means of suitable struts.

The main tower structure consists, at its lower or base portion, of hollow legs or base members 12, substantially square in cross sectional plan, being formed by two angle irons 12a and 12b, welded or otherwise permanently fastened together. These four legs 12 are the upper threaded ends of bolts 18, which extend into the foundation 11, nuts 19 being provided for the bolts 18 to hold the lower end of the derrick legs and the brace beams 13 in engagement with a plate 20 on the foundation 11.

At a substantial distance above the foundation, in the form shown being approximately 18 feet above the lower end of the member 12, the inner angle iron of each hollow leg 12 is cut off, forming a seat 22, which affords support for the auxiliary tower as more fully hereinafter described.

The remainder of the legs of the main tower consist of angle iron sections 23 arranged end to end .on each other to the top of the derrick. These sections 23 are connected to each other by means of plates 24, bolted to the respective sections, such plates being connected by means of struts 25 and diagonal bracing 26, which may be of any desired form.

The auxiliary tower consists primarily of four legs, each consisting of a series of sections of angle iron arranged end to end.

The lower end of the lowermost section 30 in each leg ofthe auxiliary tower is provided with a foot piece 31, riveted thereto by means of rivets 32. 33 designates a nut threaded on a bolt or screw 34, the head of which is seated in a depression formed in a base member or seat 35. Washers 36 and shims 37 are provided between the nut 33 and member 35, the shims being retained in place by means of a light piece of angle iron or guard" 38 bolted to the foot piece 31. By means of this connection just described between the main tower, substantially the entire weight of the auxiliary tower and its proportionate part of the crown block load are carried on the base member 35, and transmitted therefrom to the top of the inner member of the main tower, any adjustments necessary being accomplished by means of the nut 33 and shims 37.

The joints between the section of the auxiliary tower are preferably in staggered relation to the joints between the sections of the main tower and the auxiliary tower clamped to the main tower in the following manner:

A lug or support 40 is bolted to a section of the auxiliary tower by means of bolts 41,

the lug forming part of a. spacer 42 which overlaps the joint between two sections of the auxiliary tower, the spacer being of proper dimension to space the main tower and auxiliary tower from each other. 44 designates a clamping plate secured to the auxiliary tower by the bolts 41, which also secure the lug 40. A clamping bolt 45, shaped to conform to the main tower, is provided with threaded ends, which extend through the clamping plate and are engaged by nuts 46 whereby the two towers are clamped rigidly together about the spacer 42. A similar clamping plate 47 and belt 48 are provided above the spacing plate 42.

Provision is made for an adjustable draw works girt, which consists of the following I structure: 2

50 designates an angle plate riveted to the leg 12, such plate having outwardly extending flanges 51, which are provided with threaded holes to receive threaded screw members 52, which extend through plates 53, bolted to two channel bars 54 forming the girt, such screw members 53 being provided with heads 55, engaging the inner sides of said plates 53. The channel bars each have riveted thereto'angle corner pieces which are clamped to the angle plate 50 by means of bolts 57, such bolts passing through slots in the plate 50, so that when the girt is properly adjusted by means of the screws 52, the girt may be clamped in adjusted position by said bolts 57. \Vith the above arrangement, the girt member 54 may be vertically adjusted to accommodate various vertical dimensions of different makes of draw works.

The upper end of the legs of both the main and auxiliary towers are squared off and cornered by means of a plate or cap 60, upon which rests the water table beam 61. Extending on the two outside faces of the legs are girts 62 and 63, to which is attached a platform 64. The girts 62 and 63 are secured to the plate 60 by means of suitable bolts. The two inner sides of each post or leg are en gaged by angle braces 65 and 66, the brace 65 being riveted to the plate 60 and beam 61, and the brace 66 being riveted to the plate 60. The two girts 62 and 63 and the angle braces 65 and 66 with the plate 60 together form a cap for receiving the upper end of the tower post or leg.

In addition to the clamping of the legs of the main and auxiliary tower together at the joints, as above described, I preferably provide additional clamping means between the joints which consist of a single clamping plate 44 and clamping bolts 45, a spacer 42 being seated on a lug 40, as heretofore described.

By utilizing the construction above described, itis readily apparent-that by removing the clamping means the inner or reinforcing tower may be easily detached from the main tower after the heavy work has been performed on the wall, the upper part of the main tower, after the removal of the reinforcing tower, being of suflicient strength to permit safe performance of all work necessary after the heavy drilling operations.

It is particularly to be noted that the legs of the main tower at its base and to a point above the draw works are not only of sufficient strength to support the reinforcing or auxiliary tower when in place, but are at all times and after the removal of the reinforcing tower sufficiently heavy to stand unusual stress that may occur due to the moving of heavy tools, machinery, pipe, and easing.

I claim as my invention:

1. A reinforced steel derrick comprising a base plate, a main tower resting on said base plate having a plurality of legs, a reinforced base section on each leg extending a substantial distance above said base plate, a seat on each base section above said base plate, an auxiliary tower supported on. said seat consisting of a plurality of leg sections, the

lowermost section of each leg of the auxiliary tower resting on the seat on the base section of the mam tower, and means for clampmg said legs of the auxiliary tower to the legs and adjustable means on each foot piece engaging the seat on the respective legs of the main tower.

3. A reinforced steel derrick comprising a base plate, a main tower resting on said base late having a plurality of legs, a reinforced ase section on each leg extending a substan- ,tial distance above said base plate, a seat on each base section above said base plate, an auxiliary tower having a plurality of legs, a foot piece on each leg of the auxiliary tower, and adjustable means on each foot piece enga-gmg mam tower, said ad1ustable means consisting of a bolt threaded into the foot piece, a head on said bolt engageable with said seat, and spacing means between the head of said bolt and said foot piece.

4.. A reinforced steel derrick comprising a base plate, a main tower resting on said base plate having a plurality of angle iron legs, an auxiliary tower having a plurality of angle iron legs, a'seat on each leg of the main tower for supporting the inner tower above said base plate, and securing means for securing the main tower and auxiliary tower together, said securing means consisting of a plurality of clamps, each clamp consisting of an angular clamping plate secured to the leg of the auxiliary tower, and a clamping bolt extending around the leg of the main tower secured to the clamping plate.

5. A reinforced steel derrick comprising a base plate, a main tower resting on said base plate having a plurality of angle iron legs,

an auxiliary tower having a plurality of angle iron legs, a seat on each leg of the main tower for supporting the inner tower above said base plate, and securing means for securing the main tower and auxiliary tower together, said securing means consisting of a plurality of clamps, each clamp consisting of an angular clamping plate secured to the leg of the auxiliary tower, a clamping bolt extending around the leg of the main tower secured to the clamping plate, a spacer plate between the leg of the main tower and the leg of the auxiliary tower, and means on the legs of the auxiliary "tower for supporting the spacer plates.

6. A reinforced steel derrick comprising a base plate, a main tower resting on said base plate, an auxiliary tower, each tower consisting of a plurality of legs, saidv main towerhaving a hollow base section on each leg extending substantially above the bottom of the tower formed of two angle irons welded to-- gether, the inner angle iron being shorter than the outer angle iron forming a seat on its upper end, said auxiliary tower resting on said seat, and means for clamping said auxiliary towerto said main tower.

7. A reinforced steel derrick comprising a base plate, a main tower resting on said base plate, an auxiliary tower, each tower consistthe seat on the respective legs of the ing of a plurality of legs, said main tower having a hollow base section on each leg extending substantially above the bottom of the tower formed of two angle irons welded together, the inner angle iron being shorter than the outer angle ironforming a seat on its upper end, said auxiliary tower resting on said seat, means for clamping said auxiliary tower to said main tower, and adjustable supporting means between said seats and the lower end of the legs of the auxiliary tower.

8. A reinforced steel derrick comprising a base plate, a main tower resting on said base plate, an auxiliary tower, each tower consisting of a plurality of legs, said main tower having a hollow base section on each leg extending substantially above the bottom of the tower formed of two angle irons welded together, the inner angle iron being shorter than the outer angle iron forming a seat on its upper end, said auxiliary tower resting on said seat, means for clamping said auxiliary tower and spacer means between to said main tower,

and the legs of the the legs of the main tower auxiliary tower.

9. A steel derrick comprising a base plate, a

main tower resting on said base plate, said movable sections forming legs, said legs of the main tower and auxiliary tower together forming hollow members substantially square in cross section, and means for connecting the legs of the main tower, a base portion of said hollow members being arranged to remain as a permanent part of the derrick when said auxiliary tower is removed.

10. A steel derrick comprising a main tower and'an auxiliary tower each consisting of a plurality of legs, the base section of each leg of the main tower being permanent in form, means on the said base section for supporting removable sectlons of the auxiliary tower, means connecting the legs of the main tower to each other, meansfor adj ustably supporting a draw works girt on said base sections of the legs of the main tower, said outer auxiliary towers extending to substantially the same height, and means in the upper ends of said towers formlng a support for' water table beams.

11. A steel derrick comprising an outer tower havmg a base portion of hollow legs substantially square 1n cross section, an inner removable tower supported onsaid base porin tion, both towers consisting of a plurality of legs of angle iron sections arranged in corresponding positions to form composite tower members substantially square in cross section,

means for connecting the legs of the main tower to the legs of the outer tower.

g 12. A reinforced steel derrick comprising a base plate, a main tower having a plurality of legs resting on said plate, a base section on each leg, a draw works girt'member carried by said base section, a seat on each base section above said (lraw works girt member, an auxiliary tower having a plurality of leg members removably resting on said seat, and means for ,releasably clamping the legs of said auxiliary lower to the legs of the main tower.

ln testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 1 1th day of February, 19:28.

JAMES E. SMITH. 

